France

Chronology of Coverage

Feb. 26, 2015

Courtroom drama in France is unfolding over whether 92-year-old Liliane Bettencourt, heir to immense L'Oreal cosmetics fortune, was duped out of money by confidants who took advantage of her growing dementia, or whether she was simply generous; trial has become source of fascination for much of France because it offers peek into private lives of ultra-wealthy. MORE

Feb. 25, 2015

French court decision awarding $2.13 million to be split by families of babies that were switched at birth in clinic ends long struggle for accidental mother Sophie Serrano; she says her love for girl, now 20, grew stronger after learning she was not her daughter, and that she discovered new meaning of family. MORE

Feb. 24, 2015

French authorities seize passports of six citizens suspected of trying to go to Syria for terrorist activities and are preparing travel bans for 40 more; new law allows imposition of six-month travel ban, which can be extended for up to two years, on suspected terrorists. MORE

Feb. 21, 2015

Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, France's first female education minister, has insight to experience of country's Muslim youth, having herself emigrated from Morocco at young age; has been criticized by conservatives as well as Muslims but is committed to idea that schools should instill in all students values of French republic. MORE

Feb. 21, 2015

Survey done by data analysis firm Markit Economics shows that continuing strength of Germany's economy and strong growth in France have led eurozone economy to perk up in February 2015. MORE

Feb. 20, 2015

Socialist government of French Pres Francois Hollande survives confidence vote in National Assembly, which was called after it bypassed Socialist rebels to pass controversial package of economic measures without ballot; vote ensures bill will advance. MORE

Feb. 20, 2015

Imminent conclusion of trial of Dominique Strauss-Kahn on charges of abetting prostitution has many people in France wondering whether personal life of politicians now may be fair game, upending long-held taboo of invading privacy; Strauss-Kahn is likely to be acquitted. MORE

Feb. 19, 2015

French prosecutor Philippe Vannier says five teenagers arrested for overturning as many as 250 gravestones in Jewish cemetery in eastern France had clear anti-Semitic motive. MORE

Feb. 18, 2015

French government continues to review gaps in surveillance that resulted in Paris terrorist attacks by Said and Cherif Kouachi and Amedy Coulibaly; French intelligence has long been considered among best in world, but Charlie Hebdo attack has caused debate about quality of European intelligence gathering. MORE

Feb. 18, 2015

French leaders force measure through lower house of Parliament that would permit more stores to open on Sundays; move reflects rift in nation over balancing worker protections against economic growth. MORE

Feb. 17, 2015

French police detain five teenagers in connection with desecration of as many as 250 gravestones in Jewish cemetery near German border; remains unclear whether vandalism was motivated by anti-Semitism, but nonetheless increases sense among European Jews that they are under attack. MORE

Feb. 13, 2015

Michael Kimmelman Critic's Notebook assesses plan to join Paris with its inner suburbs, shift that will more than triple city's official population to nearly seven million people; observes change could extend a greater sense of belonging to millions of immigrant families who live in poverty in city's outskirts, challenging the metropolis, and also France, to reckon with its legacy of racism. MORE

Feb. 13, 2015

French Pres Francois Hollande announces that Egypt will purchase nearly $6 billion worth of military hardware from France, including two dozen fighter jets and naval frigate. MORE

Feb. 13, 2015

Islamic State militant group says Hayat Boumeddiene, woman suspected of taking part in Paris terror attacks, is living among its followers in Syria or Iraq. MORE

Feb. 11, 2015

Decree in southwestern France stating that all bakeries must close one day per week and similar local rules and regulations like it have stoked debate over France's economy, small businesses and traditions; some argue that such rules hurt economic growth, but bakers say that they protect them from overwork and from competition from larger stores. MORE

Feb. 11, 2015

Former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn testifies in French sex ring trial, acknowledging that he was part of orgies but denies knowing that women were prostitutes; Strauss-Kahn could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted on charges of abetting prostitution. MORE

Feb. 11, 2015

Terrorist attacks in France have placed increased focus on role of teachers in instilling moral and civic values and respect for rule of law; teachers call task difficult one that should be shared by individual families and culture at large; of particular focus are debates regarding respect for religious faith and freedom to criticize religion. MORE

Feb. 8, 2015

Profile of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who has been forced into spotlight after terrorist attack on French newspaper Charlie Hebdo; insiders say since attacks, Hidalgo has remained the same tireless and ambitious politician even as she embraced her new role of 'comforter in chief' to city. MORE

Feb. 6, 2015

Memo From Rosny-Sous-Bois; Charlie Hebdo killings and attack on Jewish supermarket by Islamist gunmen raise new questions about concept of state secularism and whether it is being fairly applied in France, where an estimated five million Muslims, close to 8 percent of the population, live and worship. MORE

Feb. 5, 2015

Officials report that Moussa Coulibaly, man accused of stabbing three soldiers guarding Jewish center in Nice, France, had been questioned by counterterrorism authorities days before attack and had been known to police for years; attack raises concerns about security procedures in country made anxious by assault on newspaper Charlie Hebdo. MORE

Feb. 4, 2015

French police arrest man identified as Moussa Coulibaly, charging him with attacking and wounding three soldiers guarding Jewish community center in Nice. MORE

Feb. 3, 2015

Former International Monetary Fund head Dominique Strauss-Kahn goes on trial on charges that he was directly involved in operations of international prostitution ring; case has ignited debate about private lives of public officials and sexual morality in France. MORE

Feb. 3, 2015

Places like Paris suburb of Clichy-Sous-Bois offer clearest example of how French ideals of democracy and multiculturalism are butting up against growing immigrant Muslim population that feels ostracized and discriminated against; in wake of Charlie Hebdo attacks, France has been engaged in debate about how to promote French Republican values like secularism. MORE

Feb. 2, 2015

French Finance Min Michel Sapin says country is ready to support Greece, but it will not forgive debt; urges country to continue with economic reforms. MORE

Feb. 2, 2015

Art director Joachim Roncin, who created logo bearing words Je Suis Charlie, is trying to keep people and organizations from capitalizing on slogan meant to support both free speech and French newspaper Charlie Hebdo. MORE

Feb. 1, 2015

A man’s victory in a Paris court could set a precedent that Europe’s “right to be forgotten” ruling should apply far more broadly than originally understood. MORE

Jan. 31, 2015

Annual Angouleme comics festival takes place in France under shadow of massacre at offices of satiric magazine Charlie Hebdo; security is heightened and special prize is awarded posthumously to victims of attack. MORE

Jan. 30, 2015

Reports that French police have questioned 8-year-old Muslim boy in Nice who made comment supporting perpetrators of terrorist attacks around Paris are sparking debate over whether country is taking its attempts to combat extremism too far; questioning of boy and similar incidents have alarmed some civil liberties advocates. MORE

Jan. 29, 2015

French government releases graphic video showing clips of Islamic State brutalities in effort to counteract arguments used by jihadists to lure in disaffected youth. MORE

Jan. 28, 2015

French police say they have arrested five people suspected of jihadist activity after raiding town of Lunel; say arrests are part of counterterrorism efforts after attacks in and around Paris. MORE

Jan. 24, 2015

Many French movies are relying on foreign financing and larger tax breaks from other European countries like Belgium and Luxembourg; broadcasters beset by low revenue are investing in big-budget films, hurting smaller productions; twenty-two percent of filming for French movies was done outside country in first nine months of 2014. MORE

Jan. 24, 2015

Constitutional Council, France's top court, rules in case involving Ahmed Sahnouni that it was legal for Prime Min Manuel Valls to strip Sahnouni of his citizenship due to his engagement in terrorist activities; ruling strengthens France's antiterrorism law that allows government to strip citizenship of citizens who have dual nationalities. MORE

Jan. 23, 2015

French schools will implement new measures to promote secular values after many children in immigrant communities criticize Charlie Hebdo or dismiss terrorist attacks in Paris to their teachers and classmates; measures will ramp up France's secular code of conduct through teacher trainings, anti-discrimination lessons and related classroom activities. MORE

Jan. 22, 2015

France outlines aggressive program to prevent future terrorist attacks like that at satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo; proposal, which includes updated intelligence and surveillance operations, as well as possible renewal of country's anti-terrorist 'national indignity' law, raises questions over balance of national security with civil liberties. MORE

Jan. 21, 2015

French Prime Min Manuel Valls says nation has deep gulf akin to 'apartheid' that is leaving minorities on fringe of society; comments are seen as response to Paris terrorist attacks and isolation of immigrant population. MORE

Jan. 21, 2015

Letter from former New York Times reporter Martin Tolchin comments on Jan 15 article about way Muslims in suburbs in France fear terrorist attacks in Paris will lead to more racial profiling and isolation from rest of society. MORE

Jan. 21, 2015

Paris Journal; sites of massacre of 17 people in terrorist attacks on offices of Charlie Hebdo and at kosher market have been turned into shrines by visitors and mourners of all nationalities and faiths; some worry about how European countries will react; dignitaries like New York Mayor Bill de Blasio also pay respects. MORE

Jan. 20, 2015

French television show Le Petit Journal has made Fox News target of its satirical humor, in response to American channel's false reporting about areas of Paris that are 'no-go zones' for non-Muslims in its coverage of terrorist attacks in city; Le Petit Journal turned to its audience to engage in Twitter and email campaign to draw out response from Fox News. MORE

Jan. 19, 2015

Editorial contends that attack on French newspaper Charlie Hebdo by homegrown militants Amedy Coulibaly and Cherif and Said Kouachi points to government's failure to address poverty and alienation among marginalized Muslim immigrants and their children; holds that poverty and secularist rejection of their religion leaves such youths vulnerable to radicalization; urges government to find way to make French republican values meaningful to Muslim youth. MORE

Jan. 18, 2015

Charlie Hebdo terrorist Said Kouachi is buried in unmarked grave in Reims, France. MORE

Jan. 18, 2015

Thousands of legal documents detail radicalization of terrorist brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi over 12 years leading up to massacre of 12 people at French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris; Cherif Kouachi evolved from amateur jihadist to merciless killer virtually under noses of French authorities, who twice had him in their grasp. MORE

Jan. 17, 2015

Port town of La Ciotat, France, has emerged as the world's premiere destination for repairing and maintaining superyachts; town was shipbuilding center since the early 1800s, but declined amid competition following World War II; shift to rarefied maintenance industry has allowed it to mount a stunning economic comeback. MORE

Jan. 17, 2015

Small French town of Lunel is example of difficulty authorities face in halting trend among young Muslims toward extremism, particularly in wake of terrorist attacks in Paris; Lunel Mayor Claude Arnaud says no more than 20 residents have gone to Syria, but town has received attention because many of those 20 have been killed; officials are looking into whether town has been infiltrated by jihadist cell, and some blame local mosque's leadership. MORE

Jan. 17, 2015

France is considering whether it needs to strengthen its antiterrorism laws in wake of attacks in Paris, but suggestion advanced by some that country should emulate United States' Patriot Act draws criticism and protest from both sides of Atlantic; legislation authorizing surveillance of citizens has little support from French public, and Patriot Act itself has become shorthand for limiting freedom. MORE

Jan. 17, 2015

Movie theaters across France will screen for one week Daniel Leconte 2008 documentary It's Hard to Be Loved by Idiots, which focuses on Paris-based satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and its 2007 trial for public offense; re-release is part of effort to support paper after 12 of its staff members were killed in terrorist attack. MORE

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General Information on France

Official Name: French Republic
Capital: Paris (Current local time)
Government Type: Republic
Population: 63.72 million
Area: 220,668 square miles; largest west European country, about four-fifths the size of Texas.
Languages: French, but some rapidly declining regional dialects and languages
Web site:Service-public.fr

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